What if artificial intelligence didn't just belong to Big Tech?
What if AI was designed by communities—for communities—so it could actually serve us? That's the future we're working toward.
And we want you to be part of it.
🧠 The Vision: Community-Based Public AI
We're launching a collaborative project to build a public, community-driven AI system—starting with local events, organizers, artists, and initiatives here in Detroit.
This AI won't sell your data.
It won't optimize for clicks.
It'll help us organize, document, and grow our communities.
We'll start by collecting and structuring public information—who's speaking, what's happening, and why it matters—so people can:
- Discover events and gatherings that align with their values
- Learn from local voices and creators
- Connect with others working toward shared goals
- Onboard more easily into local ecosystems
This is about building an AI assistant for civic and creative life, grounded in our own values—not Silicon Valley's.
💸 Fellowship Details
This project is part of the Public AI Creative Fellowship, a national program hosted by Metagov and supported by the Center for Cultural Innovation.
Each selected fellow receives a $5,000 stipend and works over a six-month period to shape a public vision of AI that is inclusive, accountable, and community-rooted.
- 🗓 Application Deadline: August 15, 2025
- 📅 Fellowship begins: September 29, 2025
👥 Join the Team
I'm applying as the Creative Technologist—building interactive tools to help communities better organize and engage with public life.
Now I'm looking for two collaborators to complete the team:
- 🎥 A Video Creator
Someone who can tell this story visually—through a short documentary, video series, or multimedia piece that brings the stakes of public AI to life. - ✍️ A Writer
Someone who can craft a compelling narrative—speculative, persuasive, or poetic—that reshapes how we imagine AI, infrastructure, and collective power.
These roles can be filled by one person or two. You'll join as a full fellow with a $5,000 stipend and creative freedom to help shape this project from the ground up.
🚀 How to Get Involved
- Want to apply together? Email me: john@thebarefootdev.com
- Know someone perfect for this? Please share this with them.
- Curious but not sure where you fit? Let's talk. There may be more ways to collaborate beyond the fellowship.
This is a call to reimagine what AI could be—not just a product, but public infrastructure. Let's make sure it's rooted in us.
Let's build it here.
Let's build it together.